Naruto: Kōkai

by Ken Miyamoto

After the failure of the Sasuke Retrieval Mission the Council of the Hidden Leaf decides to punish Naruto with banishment from the village forcing the hand of Tsunade. Now alone and no longer a shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Naruto decides to take his newfound life into his own hands. Follow Naruto Uzumaki as he tries to find his place in the ninja world.

32. Chapter 32

Yo, it's Ken.

First off, I am super sorry for the update being so late. I spent hours editing the chapter and the site decided it would be super awesome and delete all my progress on the edits... Twice. Haha, we made it through anyway and this long-awaited chapter is finally releasing. I originally planned for this chapter to publish the week after the 1 year anniversary chapter but with how it turned out I'm glad I took as much time as I did to write this one. It was a really fun chapter to write and I'm proud of this one.

Let's get to reviews!

Alexander4443: Hey bro, thank you as always! Now for what ranking Naruto is strength wise officially I can't really say because this arc is going to be doing a lot for his character but currently, I will say Naruto is High-Chunin/Low Jonin levels of strength. That's subject to change though. Thank you again for readign and I'll see you in the next one!

Dragonkeeper10: Our culprit for the memory loss was Fu, Danzo's back-up plan in case Yugao fell through. I'm glad you like how Danzo is written, he's one of those other characters I like writing for bitter and calculating pulling strings from the shadows I love being able to navigate around that. Danzo's fall will be from a high place, I can tell you that haha. Yeah, this was one of my personal favorite moments from this chapter just that moment of solace between them after Naruto tells her he remembers her it's just a nice moment. Oh yeah that reunion is coming and it's going to be a show just you wait. Thank you for reading and I hope to see you in the next one!

Jagsboy: Jags! Thank you again for all of your questions and input in the Discord I'm happy to chat at anytime as always. I'm glad to see Naruto up and running before the big fight too, it's going to be a good one I can tell you that. Regarding Naruto and Tayuya their relationship at this point won't be affected too badly by his memory returning since we know how our boy Naruto is so I agree with you there. Thank you for reading and I hope to see you in the next one!

Kabundio: Hey there, thanks for joining the Discord glad to have ya! Yeah, it was Fu one of the hands of Danzo, he's a character I wanted to experiment with and his fight with Naruto was pretty fun to write. Naruto vs Danzo huh? I won't say anything crazy but that's an interesting idea there haha. Naruto and Sasuke will be clashing and Tayuya will make her choice all in this chapter you'll have to read to find out. Thank you so much for reading and following the story I hope to move forward to potentially more years ahead with writing this story. Thank you for reading anf I hope to see you in the next one.

thor94: Hey there, Naruto's memories have returned and it was super fun to write. Danzo is building up quite the amount of karma, but you'll have to stay tuned to see. Thank you again for readinf I hope to see you in the next one.

Novazzz: Haha I know right, thanks for hanging in there for me and it only goes up from here. Thank you for reading and I hope to see you in the next one.

ecoBlade: Eco, thanks again for chatting and your input on Discord it's appreciated as always. Things did turn up a notch and I know, I know but come on it was a good one haha. Thank you again for reading and I hope to see you in the next one!

Javiur: Hey there, I'm glad you liked the chapter it was a fun one to write! Thank you so much for coming back around and looking forward to the chapter it means a lot to hear that, and I'll continue to do my best. It's good to have Naruto back and the time for dread is over and the time for hype has arrived as its finally time for the rivals to take the stage. Thank you again for reading and I'll see you in the next one!

The Faceless Wordsmith: I understand where you're coming from, and I had always intended to keep this part of the arc short and sweet to help build up that moment of Naruto's return. Now things will begin to move forward toward the next big destination and I'm excited for what's next. Thank you for reading and I hope to see you in the next one.

Poizonn98: Hey there! Thank you! I had fun writing this chapter and I had even more fun writing this one as Naruto and Sasuke has always been one of those big moments and it's finally here. Also thank you I did my best to not end on a cliff hanger that time haha. Thank you again for reading, let me know what you think in Discord, and I hope to see you in the next one!

SpicyOrangutan0410: I'm sorry to hear that but things are still up and coming, stayed tuned for more. Thank you for reading!

Krieger Techpriest: Krieger! That's right our boy is back as for the fate of Yugao for now I can't say much but that will be revisited stayed tuned for that one. Yeah, the shenanigans are incoming and I'm ready for it haha. Lastly are those lyrics to something? I don't recognize that, it's good to see you regardless! Thank you again for reading and I hope to see you in the next one!

Zipzapdoowoop: Hey there good to see you! Fu was one of those characters that I wanted to experiment with and one of the downfalls for his charcter for me in this story is that while I did intend for Fu not be a super prevalent character and act more as antagonist connected to Danzo, I never really gave him much of a chance to be a character in general so I can definitely get that. The part of the plot was important especially for later down the road which I can't specify at the moment, but I'll allow you to read and see for now I agree with a lot of your points. I've honestly been looking forward to getting to the next part of the plot as well as it's one I've been excited for a while now and I'm glad we're here but not without one last hurrah which is this chapter. I'm super glad the story has you invested, and I look forward to your reviews to read them over as I appreciate them highly. Thank you again for reading and I hope to see you in the next one!

There was a bunch there, I'm glad to see it. If you have any questions, thoughts, or criticism feel free to leave a review, I read all of them and try to respond to as many of them as I can so feel free to leave your thoughts.

This chapter is a fun and explosive one with a fight I've been waiting to write for a long time and over all there are a lot of great moments here, I'm proud of this chapter and looking forward to the future of the story as we move into the rest of this arc and it's going to be a ride. While I was writing this chapter I did a lot of research and ended up taking some inspiration from a lot of different places I hope that shows in this chapter as well as some fun references here and there.

I do want to make a quick announcement, there may be a brief hiatus (It's not really a hiatus, I'm dropping a double chapter in April for Kokai and that may take more than the usual two weeks) due to another story project I'm working on that is going to release in late April and will be releasing alongside Kokai. I'm not burning out haha and will take a break to prevent burn out if needed but there's going to be a bit of delay, I appreciate your patience with me.

There is a Discord server where we can chat, or you can even ask me questions I'm happy to answer anything or just chat in general I also drop sneak peeks for the chapter that will be releasing before the update there as well and I'll put the link here and as always you don't have to join you are still awesome regardless.

Thank you all once more for the past year with this story and for keeping up with it after all this time. I'm looking forward to writing more and for seeing you guys in the next one.

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy.

-Ken

{...}

Chapter 32: My Friend

Fallen leaves crunched.

The sound of small creatures moving through the trees around them picked up as they moved quicker away from the two teens. A gentle breeze blew gently swaying the blonde hair of the boy she spent days with.

Yet, it felt like she no longer knew him.

"Just a little further, we'll be back at the room where we can pack up."

Naruto said while Tayuya looked at the blonde who was speaking to her speechlessly, the words couldn't come to mind for her. No matter how hard she tried to form a sentence the words wouldn't roll from her tongue.

"So uh, we're going to have a little change of plans from before. I've got a destination for us but it's going to be quite the trip."

Naruto said while Tayuya blinked before she huffed, "What the hell are you talking about?" The girl asked while the blonde looked toward her.

"What do you mean?"

The blonde asked while Tayuya shook her head, "Are we seriously going to ignore the fact that you have your memories back. I feel like that's a pretty fucking big thing to brush over." The girl spoke while the boy blinked.

"Huh… guess it is. Well, hey I got my memories back. I'm glad but I can be more excited about it on the way. The last thing I want is more trouble to come to the village."

Naruto said cheerfully while Tayuya narrowed her eyes, "You know that's not what I meant, I'm talking about the fact that 'You' are back. That means your memories should be back to where they were." The girl said while the blonde chuckled.

"That's kind of exactly what that means."

The blonde laughed while Tayuya huffed, "Don't fuck with me, Shithead. You just cryptically said 'I remember you.' That means you remember me… the me from a while ago." The pinkette said while Naruto stopped pushing her wheelchair.

"Ah, I see what you're getting at now."

Naruto said while Tayuya scoffed, "About time. So, spill it, you're just being nice. You don't know who I am really, you're just going with the flow right?" The girl said while the blonde stood in front of her.

"I wouldn't say all that… Boss."

The blonde answered with a smile, causing Tayuya's eyes to widen at the blonde's nickname for her.

"I remember everything, that includes my memories I made while my memories were gone. That being said, I said some pretty dumb things huh?"

Naruto chuckled while Tayuya's skeptical look melted away to a slightly touched one, "So you… remember me?" The girl asked while the blonde beamed a bright smile at her.

"How could I forget?"

The teen said while Tayuya stared toward the boy before she shook her head, "That still doesn't explain everything. It's only been a few days, as far as you know I'm still the bad guy. Why not just ditch me?" The pinkette asked while the blonde nodded his head.

"You didn't ditch me. Simple as that."

Naruto said while Tayuya narrowed her eyes at him, "Simple? Shithead, you should remember that I told you why I pulled you out. I kept you around because you were supposed to kill me when you got your memories back. You were an over-glorified vehicle until then." Tayuya spoke while the blonde crouched in front of her.

"You took care of me. You didn't have to take me to that doctor, you didn't have to watch my back when we stole from the Yakzua, you didn't have to knock some sense into me when I was doubting my own memory. Talk your big game all you want but you did all of that. You take care of me, and I'll take care of you. That's the rule."

Naruto said while Tayuya looked into her eyes with her brown orbs, "The rule for who?" The girl said while that smile, she had grown used to seeing grew on his face.

"For us. You're still my friend, Tayuya."

Naruto spoke while the pinkette stared toward the boy for a few moments before she looked down toward the ground. "Even if I were to betray you?" The girl said clenching her hand into a fist refusing to make eye contact with the blonde who put his hands on his hips.

"Yeah, even if you do."

Naruto said, causing Tayuya's head to quickly look from the ground into the blue eyes of the boy, "That's insane! How could you even trust someone like that?!" The girl asked while the blonde smiled.

"Look, you've been alone for a year or so surrounded by people who didn't really know you are. As far as I'm concerned, I'm still pretty much a random guy in your eyes, it has only been a few days. I won't hate you for trying to get back to something you know and instead of sticking around with something you don't."

The blonde spoke while Tayuya gritted her teeth, "How do you do it then… stick around with something you don't know. Your own village is out to kill you, so is the rest of the world, with the cherry on top being sticking with someone who would stab you in the back at any moment." The girl asked while the blonde sighed.

"I give things a chance. If it works out great, if it doesn't then I learn for next time. Regardless I give things a shot and I believe in them. Like I believe in you."

Naruto said while Tayuya couldn't wrap her head around the words of the blonde, how could someone so strong have this much faith in the people and places around him?

"...That way of thinking in this world is going to get you killed."

Tayuya said while she was met with the unwavering form of Naruto Uzumaki who stood firmly.

"It hasn't yet."

The blonde said while the girl chuckled in spite of herself before Naruto walked behind her chair and started pushing her again.

"So, I think I still have a sealing scroll leftover, that way we don't have to get you a new chair every time we move. You're getting pretty expensive. Hope you don't mind being carried around a bit more."

Naruto said while Tayuya peeked behind her, "So where exactly is our next destination? Unless you just plan on having us wander around the world." The girl said while the boy tapped her chair with his hand.

"We'll be going to a place called Uzushiogakure, it's the hometown of my mom… I think. I'm hoping I find something that will tell me more about my past and my parents there."

Naruto said while Tayuya raised an eyebrow, "Never took you for the soul-searching type, guess wandering through the world does that to you huh?" The girl said while the boy chuckled.

"I wouldn't call it soul searching just… adding more pieces to my story I'm missing. Does that still count?"

The blonde asked while Tayuya looked ahead with a familiar feeling with the name of the land as they were beginning to move out of the forest back into the village.

"That's the home of those Uzumaki people, right? The dead ones...What happens when you go to Uzushiogakure and you don't find anything but dust and rubble. What then?"

Tayuya asked while she continued to look ahead while the blonde kept walking forward with a smile still on his face. "Then, I guess I'll just continue to write my own story." Tayuya turned her head toward the blonde who kept smiling as he pushed her unfazed by the potential failure of his quest.

"There's still so much to see outside of that, like the rest of the Land of Water or the Land of Spring and Snow I've got people to visit there."

The blonde spoke cheerfully while Tayuya gave him a puzzled look, "But that's your family. Your past. Finding nothing wouldn't hurt? It wouldn't make it seem pointless… everything you've been through?" The girl asked while the blonde placed a hand on her shoulder.

"My past, my family, they are important to me as much as they are a part of me. They aren't everything I am though. It's not pointless because at least I went to find out and I'll know. Then my life continues forward, with plenty of more adventures on the way."

Naruto said while Tayuya watched the boy confidently smile while slowly her eyes shifted into a gentler look.

Oh.

This is what this is.

Freedom.

Naruto shined in a way she hadn't seen before in anyone, completely unrestricted by anything else in the world. Just living the life that he decided. This was who Naruto really was, unlike her she was still trapped in both body and mind in a past that's long gone.

With no clear way to move forward.

He was like the sun shining brightly and she was the moon trapped in an orbit.

"We'll pack up and leave once we get back, I'm sure this fight will bring unwanted attention."

Naruto said while Tayuya shook her head, "No. We'll stay here for one more night." The girl spoke while the blonde raised an eyebrow at her.

"You sure?"

Naruto asked while Tayuya nodded her head slowly, "Just trust me, Shithead. We'll leave in the morning, gotta get more supplies anyway." The pinkette said while the blonde nodded back.

"Right, don't want to go back on the road unprepared. Especially through where we're going, I heard that was going to be a rough route."

Naruto mused while Tayuya looked ahead with a calm look on her face while the boy continued to push her wheelchair.

Time was up.

By morning tomorrow, Sasuke would be here, and he would be waiting for Naruto. That meant she couldn't leave just yet.

There was one last thing she needed to do.

{...}

Brown eyes slowly cracked open while they stared toward the ceiling.

A hand grabbed at the blanket covering her frame while she slid off the bed into her wheelchair nearby.

She quickly wheeled herself toward a bag pulling it open revealing her new clothing. She pulled out each piece with her hand before her fingers touched a small cap.

The cap that she had held previously with her for so many years, the one she got from Orochimaru. The man she looked up to the most. She grabbed at her sleeping shirt pulling it off of herself smoothly while she looked toward her pants, the girl traced her fingers over her legs.

She remembered that quick sensation of feeling something in her leg from where Naruto had put his finger on. She still couldn't feel anything, but she could still remember its warmth. She grabbed the hem of her pants pulling them down as she struggled getting them off.

"Come on, Tayuya."

She grumbled to herself before she managed after a while to take off her pants and dress herself before rolling to the door.

No more time to waste.

A door opened slowly revealing Tayuya in her wheelchair with her cap on her head, slowly another set of eyes looked at her.

"Mornin. You slept pretty well."

Naruto teased while Tayuya exhaled out of her nose in response to the boy, "Shut up, it's the last time I'm going to be able to sleep like that." The girl said while the blonde chuckled.

"I guess so, we'll pretty much be camping after this point so sleep could be a little rough. Good news is I got us sleeping bags!"

The blonde cheered while he lifted his bag shaking it a little, Tayuya couldn't help but exhale out of her nose before a small grin grew on her face.

"Yeah. Really exciting, Shithead."

Tayuya joked while the blonde sighed, "It's better than the ground, plus these are pretty comfortable." Naruto said while the girl stared toward him.

"You sure you're going to be alright on your own? I shouldn't take too long but after the attack I'm not sure we should split up until later."

Naruto said while Tayuya shook her head, "We'll get more things done faster, now that you're back up to speed you don't need me holding your hand all the time anymore." the pinkette said while the blonde rubbed the back of his head.

"I know… Not like I needed you to hold my hand, or throw hangers at me, constantly complain about stuff."

Naruto said with a grin growing on his face while Tayuya scoffed, "Ha ha. You done?" The girl said while the boy tapped his chin.

"No… but I'll spare you for now."

Naruto said while the wheelchair bound girl rolled toward him giving him a light punch to his leg.

"I'm fine. You just do your thing."

Tayuya tried to reassure the blonde who looked into her eyes for a few moments before he sighed, "Then we'll meet back up and leave as soon as I get back, alright?" Naruto said while her brown eyes looked into his blue ones before she looked away.

"...Sure."

Tayuya said while she started rolling toward the door, "I almost didn't notice, but you're wearing your cap today." The blonde said while Tayuya stopped in her tracks.

"Heh, it reminds of that time you punched me in the face. Nostalgic huh?"

Naruto said while Tayuya stared at the door, "Yeah… Nostalgia. Figured I'd give it one last little spin." The girl said while she moved closer to the door.

She placed her hand on the doorknob before she opened it allowing the breeze to hit her face as she closed her eyes.

"Hey, Shithead?"

Tayuya said while the blonde adjusted the bags on his back before he turned his sights back on the girl by the door. "Yeah, Tayuya?" Naruto asked while the pinkette took a breath.

"...You know. Dealing with you… wasn't the worst damn thing in the world. Remember that."

Tayuya said while the boy smiled, "Of course I will. You aren't too bad to hang around either. See you soon." The blonde said while the girl took a deep breath.

"Yeah."

Tayuya then rolled out the door, closing it behind her. She watched the villagers walking past her while going about their daily lives. The image of a bed of flames surrounded by flowers entered her mind before she rolled herself toward the edge of the village.

The breeze blew again making her hair sway, making her think about running in the grass field with Naruto.

The way they soared through the air. That peek into freedom, to be like the breeze unrestricted. A day in the life of his world, the one he lived in.

The image of Orochimaru standing in front of her while a house had finished burning down beside them. That world… that world was his and his alone to live in.

She just had to ensure it stayed that way.

Tayuya continued to roll herself past the villagers and through the streets of the village toward the forest. She couldn't help but think back to Kusakabe and the rest of Kusasa Village, she was trapped in a broken body in some unknown land waiting for a death that would never seem to come. She escaped that prison and somehow re-entered the world.

Makes you think about how long a year really was, yet so short.

The girl eventually made it to a small clearing in the forest where she sighed before stopping in place. She closed her eyes to feel the breeze one more time allowing it to sway her long hair before she felt the breeze suddenly stop.

"Where is he?"

Tayuya slowly opened her eyes, standing behind her was Sasuke accompanied by Karin. The black-haired boy walked toward her forcefully turning her chair around to look into Tayuya's eyes.

"Where's Naruto?"

Sasuke's voice came out coldly while Tayuya looked into his black colored eyes a moment before she huffed.

"I've got good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first, Princess?"

Tayuya taunted while Sasuke's eyes narrowed into a glare, "I didn't come here for your jokes, it's been two days. Where is Naruto?" The teen asked with a growl in his voice while the pinkette pointed at him.

"Bad news is it's just me, Shithead isn't anywhere close. The good news is, it's already too late. By the time we're done here he'll be long gone. That leaves you with nothing. Huh? Guess that's just good news for me."

Tayuya said while Sasuke's hand grabbed her throat, "Karin!" Sasuke yelled while the red-haired girl closed her eyes.

"She's telling the truth… we're the only three chakra signatures here. There isn't even one approaching."

Karin said while Sasuke's eyes widened before he glared back at Tayuya squeezing his hand around her neck tighter.

"We had a deal! You bring Naruto, I'll let you live and bring you back to Orochimaru!"

Sasuke raised his voice while Tayuya grabbed the wrist of Sasuke's hand that was on her throat gripping it. "We didn't have shit! You never heard the word 'deal' come out of my mouth once, Uchiha." Tayuya spoke back while Sasuke lifted her out of her chair before slamming her back into a chair, the girl coughed while Sasuke squeezed tighter.

"I'll tell you the truth… you really had me thinking about it for a second… when you were saying that stuff about redemption and getting fixed…"

Tayuya struggled out while Sasuke's glare turned furious as he squeezed harder, "Then I thought about something… hanging around that idiot must have made me stupid too… I can't feel my legs and yeah I lost against those idiots before but not once… in these past few days… did I ever feel like I was something to be fixed." The girl spoke while the wood of the tree began to splinter as Sasuke pushed.

"I'm… not fucking broken… Just hurt. It always hurt… I spent that entire year in a fucking prison trapped in my own damn mind… I wanted Orochimaru to find me… to save me from myself… if anyone could it was him… He never came…"

Sasuke watched as the girl tried to take a breath glaring back into his eyes, "That Shithead… he made me realize that… you can't wait for the world to decide to pity you and give you what you want… No, you have to earn it on your own. Cherish it. I stole you away from him… then that bastard still risked his damn neck like an idiot for me…" Tayuya pushed back against Sasuke's grip while the boy continued to squeeze.

"You should be thanking me… I'm doing you a favor… You would've fucking lost if you fought him now… All that strength that you were bragging about, and it wouldn't mean shit… in a way I'm protecting your fragile pride. No, more like I'm protecting Shithead from wasting his time on someone as weak as you."

Tayuya taunted while Sasuke pulled her away from the tree still strangling the girl, "All of this and for what, Tayuya? He's nothing. Naruto is your enemy. Why waste your own life to protect his?!" The black-haired boy raised his voice while Tayuya was growing light-headed.

"...I'm jealous of him."

Tayuya said while Sasuke's glare lightened a little at her response, "He's… bright so fucking bright… like the damn sun. Covered in scars but smiles like he has things that still matter and are important to him… he's like the breeze. I destroy anything that I touch and he… can exist with those things and hold them in a way that I can't…" Tayuya said while her grip on Sasuke's wrist began to loosen.

"He's free."

The girl said while Sasuke continued to squeeze the life out of her, "...I spent my entire life, living for something else… living by Orochimaru's words. The things he said about me… they were all that I was… Then I got a taste of that freedom… of the world through those naive blue eyes… The wind blowing through my hair… shopping for clothes and making jokes… getting some actual sleep and waking up to do whatever the hell I wanted… Bullshit like that." Tayuya's words were beginning to sound fainter while she felt weaker.

"For a little while there… I got to be someone I didn't think I could ever be… Just me whoever the hell I decided that was."

Tayuya's brown eyes watered slightly while she looked into Sasuke's weakly but with defiance, "That's his life… What was a few days for me is every day for him… so why should someone like me ruin that for him? Why should someone like me drag him down and prevent him from living that life? From being free?" The girl spoke in a faint voice while she felt her weakest.

The sensation of her fingernails cracking and fingertips bleeding as she scratched the tree that pinned her.

The mornings of constant fear with every throb of her curse mark warning her that death was coming closer and closer with each passing day for months. Being bound to her wheelchair trapped while the rest of the world continued to move around her as if she didn't exist.

A waiting corpse.

The image of Naruto putting a hand on her head and giving her that same smile he always did while she was in her wheelchair after he got done fighting off Fu the day before.

Finally, the visage of that wildfire that was surrounded by flowers she always compared herself to appeared, the fire suddenly grew in a burst of flames burning away the flowers.

Sasuke flinched while he felt the grip around his wrist tighten again as hard as the girl could muster while she pushed herself against his tightened grip around her throat.

"I want to be free."

Tayuya said while Sasuke gave the girl a surprised look while she gripped her fingers tighter, "I want to wake up and do whatever, I want to eat new things, I want to travel and see new places, I want to feel the wind blowing through my hair, I want to continue to deal with Shithead and his stupidity, I want to be Tayuya!" The girl yelled with as much strength as she could muster while Karin looked toward the girl with surprise.

"I am scared. I'm fucking terrified. Is that what you want to hear, Uchiha? Listen fucking closely. I don't want to die! I want to live… so I want to live so badly!"

Tayuya yelled while she leaned back, Sasuke gritted his teeth, readjusting himself to hold his grip on her throat.

"You wanna know the most ironic part? Right now… I'm more free than I ever have been in my entire life. I don't want to die, but I will. I'll let you kill me, I decided that. I'm using the last of my freedom to make my own damn choice, my last good one. My freedom… for his."

Tayuya said while Sasuke gritted his teeth, "Why?" The word rolled from Sasuke's lips while the pinkette scoffed.

"Cause I'm fucking petty. If I die here, he'll never know you are trying to find him. He'll keep going and living his life. Even if you do catch up, he'll beat you and continue living unimpeded. Orochimaru doesn't get what he wants and neither do you, Princess. The cherry on top is I get to repay that idiot for letting me know what freedom was like. All of that was done by someone like me. Poor, miserable, little Tayuya."

Tayuya taunted while Sasuke growled before he squeezed as hard as he could, his pupils began the Sharingan while the pinkette coughed.

"Any burdens that Shithead has left before he continues on his own path, he carved out for himself… I'll take on and carry them then end them here with me. With my life… my choice is… I'll die… so he can live as he wants. How generous of me right? As expected of me, cause I'm the fucking strongest. You wanna know why?"

Tayuya said while a single tear rolled from one of her eyes while Sasuke looked at the girl who used her free hand to point her middle finger at him, she leaned back to allow Sasuke to fully see her face as her fiery brown eyes looked at him with one last defiant yet peaceful glance.

"Throughout hell and the rest of this shitty world… I alone am the honored one."

Tayuya spoke while one last smirk grew on her face, Sasuke stared at the girl in disbelief while the strength she had mustered was gone. One last little defiance, even if it was a lie she would make her false bravado into the truth at least at the end.

How's that for last words?

Tayuya saw a visage of a flower field, instead of the two beasts she had seen before there was only herself and Naruto sitting amongst the flowers. Naruto had that big grin on his face while Tayuya could only stare for a moment before she smiled back.

Be free, you idiot.

Sasuke's sword rang as it unsheathed, the boy wasted no time trying to attack her with it as she closed her eyes in response.

Then suddenly, the air pressure around them changed.

"Goddamnit."

Tayuya spoke as air exploded launching Sasuke through multiple trees from the impact, "SASUKE!" Karin yelled while Tayuya coughed while taking in air.

"...You asshole. Can't ever let me die in peace huh?"

Tayuya said while standing in front of her an orange scarf waved in the air while blonde hair swayed in the breeze.

"You think I don't know what a goodbye sounds like?"

Naruto spoke while he turned toward the girl lifting her off the ground, "That obvious huh?" The girl said while she heard the sound of clopping.

"Look who I found."

The blonde said as he carried Tayuya toward a horse who neighed in response, "Turns out he was following pretty closely, oh this is my horse by the way… still working on a name." The blonde said while he placed her on the horse's back.

"NARUTO!"

Sasuke roared out while he dashed from where he was kicked, Karin looked toward Sasuke who was approaching before she pulled out a kunai and dashed toward the blonde as well. Sasuke quickly threw a jab while Karin stabbed toward him with her kunai, a burst of wind around the blonde blasted them backward. Sasuke flipped landing on his feet while Karin hit the ground before rolling roughly, the black-haired teen glared toward Naruto who looked him in his eyes.

"I'll deal with you in a minute."

Naruto said while Sasuke looked at the ice blue glare of the blonde, "What… what the hell?" The black-haired teen said while Naruto turned back toward Tayuya.

"Stay with the horse. I've got a reunion to attend."

The blonde said while Tayuya huffed, "I was meeting up with people, potentially betraying you… then right when I was about to go out like a badass for your dumbass then you ruined it." The pinkette said while the blonde grinned.

"What can I say? I didn't want you to die either, so I didn't let you. I'm a greedy bastard like that."

The blonde spoke while Tayuya couldn't help but laugh a little while she sat up on the horse, "You're awful." The girl said while the blonde grinned before he turned back toward Sasuke.

"Yeah, I'm the fucking worst."

Naruto said before he looked toward Sasuke staring directly into the boy's Sharingan while he glared back at the blonde.

"Long time no see…"

{...}

"Naruto Uzumaki, that's our target."

Sasuke spoke to Karin during their quick briefing before they left to go find Tayuya and this new guy that Sasuke had a grudge on.

"I'm sorry, did you say Uzumaki?"

"Yeah. What of it?"

"Nothing… just wondering who that bastard stole his last name from."

Karin said while Sasuke raised an eyebrow at the red-haired girl who pushed her glasses up.

"I mean the Uzumaki Clan died out a long time ago and they certainly weren't blonde with blue eyes… this guy is some kind of liar."

Karin said while she flinched at Sasuke's glare toward her from her words about Naruto.

"You don't know the first damn thing about Naruto so don't speak out of line. His last name means nothing. We track him down and I'll end him. That's all."

Sasuke said while Karin flinched in response to the black-haired teen raising his voice at her.

"Right! I'm sorry.."

Karin apologized while Sasuke began to move ahead of her, she hung back looking at the Bingo Book profile of the blonde before running a finger over his last name.

"You imposter."

Karin said while she quickly closed the book dashing behind Sasuke to catch up to him to take this guy down.

That guy was supposed to be just that.

A fake.

Her clan the Uzumaki are all gone, and she was the last one left as far as she knew. This guy was just supposed to be someone with a stolen last name.

However, chakra never lied.

Karin stared at Naruto in disbelief as he stood across from Sasuke, from a distance she could only get a halfway decent look at his chakra sense she was mostly focused on Orochimaru's coming from Tayuya.

Up close though… there was no denying it.

While Sasuke's chakra was cold and dark laced with his hatred, Naruto's chakra was overwhelming. It was bright and warm like the sun, she hated to admit it even to herself but while she thought Sasuke's chakra was cool…

She just wanted to sit in Naruto's and feel it.

It was familiar to her like her own chakra but different, very different. Naruto may not have been a pure blooded Uzumaki, but he was an Uzumaki, nonetheless.

She had found someone like her after all this time thinking she was one of the last of them. Strangely enough it might just be the sheer amount of chakra she had but she could also feel it coming from where the horse was as well. Karin kept her focus on Naruto looking deeper and deeper into his chakra only finding warmth and brightness.

Until she didn't.

Suddenly she felt the chakra grow darker and heavier, she felt as if something was looking back at her as well deep within Naruto.

"So, there's another one."

The Nine Tailed Fox's voice rumbled while Karin quickly pulled back panting while she stared at Naruto.

Bright, warm yet also so dark and heavy. Naruto was a contradiction standing right in front of her, how could some like this exist?

Naruto Uzumaki… What the hell are you?

The breeze made the hair of Sasuke and Naruto sway as they stared each other down from their spots.

"Naruto…"

"Long time no see."

Naruto responded while Sasuke glared at him, the blonde looked at Tayuya before he turned back toward his old friend.

"So, this is how you treat girls now huh? How far you've fallen."

Naruto said while Sasuke gritted his teeth, "Shut up. She's a waste of air barely even worth the effort of killing." The black-haired teen said while the blonde looked toward Sasuke in surprise before he closed his eyes.

"Go back to the Leaf, Sasuke."

Naruto said while Sasuke stared toward the blonde before scoffing, "You can't be serious… you're still on about that? Even after all this time?" Sasuke asked while the blonde softened the look on his face.

"Still on it? I never stopped thinking about it. Ever since the day you left. You don't belong out here with Orochimaru doing his bidding. You still have time, go back home to the Leaf. I'm sure they'll forgive you. They're still your friends."

Naruto spoke while Sasuke looked at the blonde with disbelief before he chuckled, the black-haired teen then began to laugh loudly at his fellow teen standing across from him.

"You really are being serious. After everything. I left you behind for dead and abandoned the village. Yet you're still trying to bring me back? Ignorance really is bliss."

Sasuke spoke while Naruto sighed, setting the bags he had on him on the horse before he looked toward the black-haired teen.

"I'm not bringing you anywhere. I'm telling you to go and I don't plan on repeating myself."

Naruto said while Sasuke glared at him, "Telling me? Repeating yourself? Who the hell do you think you are? Talking as if you're better than me." Sasuke said while Naruto shook his head.

"That's not what I meant, Sasuke. Look, this path that you're on. It's destructive and it's not going to fix anything. Stop pushing everyone away, this isn't strength."

The blonde said while Sasuke growled, "Again with your preachy nonsense, I expected you to learn a thing or two after being banished. I guess I expected too much even out of an idiot like you." Sasuke spoke while Tayuya looked toward Naruto who clenched his fist.

"Please… I'm just asking you to think about this. I know you hate your brother for what he did but-"

Naruto was cut off by Sasuke scoffing, "Hate him? I loathe him. I hate everything that he is. Just stop while you're ahead. Itachi's death is the only way this ends! No matter what it takes I'm killing him!" Sasuke yelled while Naruto shook his head.

"You hurt my friend, Sasuke. That alone makes me want to… I still believe in you. So please just go, let the people who care about you help you."

Naruto said while Sasuke huffed, "Hurt your friend? You mean that broken thing you decided to save? I don't care who I have to hurt or kill to avenge my clan, to gain the power to do it. That's why I'm here." Sasuke spoke while he pointed to Naruto.

"I tracked you down through the Lands, I even waited for you to get your memories back. All of that to kill you. Once I take your life then I'll achieve the power I need to finally end my brother. That's how far I'm willing to go. I don't give a damn about anything else!"

Sasuke raised his voice while Naruto looked at the teen with surprise before he looked down at the ground.

"I don't want to fight you, Sasuke… you can't let your hate consume you!"

Naruto yelled while Sasuke chuckled, "Oh I won't… I'll just let it consume you." Sasuke spoke while the blonde slowly looked up toward him.

"Is this really how it has to be?"

Naruto asked in a soft tone while Sasuke huffed, "It's the only way it can be." The teen responded while the blonde closed his eyes and took a breath.

"Last chance, Sasuke. Go back, end this nonsense."

Naruto said while Sasuke gripped his hand into a fist, "Do me a favor, Naruto… Don't get up this time." The black-haired teen said while the blonde exhaled.

"I'm not going to be breaking every bone in your body to drag you back this time… you should know that."

Naruto said while Sasuke huffed, "Shut up and let's finish this Naruto. I'm a busy man." The black-haired teen said while Tayuya looked between the boys.

The air between them seemed to be cold and almost still as they both braced their next move carefully reading one another. Neither one of them moved a muscle as they eyed each other, Tayuya and Karin could feel the tension between the two boys as the breeze blew again.

The first strike being thrown faster than their eyes could see.

Naruto's eyes widened as he leaned his head to the side avoiding a thrown kunai catching it out of the air before quickly turning toward Sasuke blocking his attack with his leg. Sasuke's fist collided with Naruto's leg before he quickly began throwing punches engaging Naruto in close combat.

Naruto avoided the strikes he could and blocked the strikes that he couldn't while Sasuke aggressively attacked the blonde, Sasuke threw a jab that barely grazed Naruto's face before he put Sasuke into an arm lock. Sasuke was quickly punched in the face with a heavy punch sending the back haired teen staggering, Naruto gave him a quick glare before tossing the kunai aside.

Naruto waited for Sasuke to recover before he quickly dashed, closing the distance between them aggressively attacking Sasuke, Sasuke tried blocking the heavy attacks while striking back with his own. A punch slammed against Sasuke's guard before another two punches slammed into his gut.

Sasuke coughed while Naruto grabbed the back of his head slamming the black-haired teen's face into his knee, Sasuke didn't get a moment to recover as Naruto tugged him by the front of his shirt toward another series of blows.

Sasuke took the punches before he grabbed Naruto's wrist pulling him into a knee, the blonde quickly moved out of the way of his knee and threw a kick. Sasuke ducked underneath the kick before a second kick slammed into his face, Sasuke then sent out electricity around causing Naruto to back up.

Sasuke tried to regain his footing but the change in air pressure caused him to look up right as Naruto was throwing a punch. A sonic boom burst behind the blonde while the punch slammed into Sasuke's face, Sasuke spun in the air before he crashed into the ground.

"The hell was that?"

Sasuke asked while Naruto walked toward him glaring at the boy on the ground, Naruto grabbed him by the collar. The blonde threw a punch while Sasuke exploded into snakes, Naruto quickly turned before taking a punch to the face from Sasuke.

Naruto staggered while Sasuke threw a roundhouse kick hitting the blonde in his side before, he continued his onslaught with punching slamming against Naruto's face.

Sasuke kept punching harder and harder, but his last punch landed on Naruto's face while the blonde looked unfazed from it, Sasuke's eye widened while Naruto smacked away Sasuke's arm before slamming a heavy punch into the brunette's solar plexus.

Sasuke coughed while Naruto slammed punches into his face while he was dazed, each heavy punch hit him across his face while the blonde's blue eyes glared at him.

One last punch sent Sasuke spinning against before he crashed into the ground, 'The hell is with his Taijutsu?! It's far too different than before!' Sasuke thought to himself while he activated his Sharingan.

Naruto threw another punch that Sasuke avoided, the blonde followed that up with a few kicks that Sasuke dodged as well, his eyes now reading the blonde's movements. Sasuke then quickly countered a punch with his arm before uppercutting the blonde, Sasuke then threw two quick blows into the blonde's chest before he kicked him away.

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

Sasuke yelled, firing a massive fireball where Naruto had landed. Sasuke watched the fireball reach the blonde as his eyes widened. The fireball stopped in place before Sasuke felt himself get hit by a blast of wind sending him flying backward into a tree.

Sasuke huffed while he looked back up at the fireball as it blasted apart with a wave of the blonde's arm, Naruto was standing in the flames glaring toward Sasuke.

The blonde blasted toward Sasuke who quickly lifted his guard to block the attack that he could barely see, the black-haired teen kept his guard up against the flurry of heavy punches Naruto was throwing against his guard, the dirt underneath his feet cracking and crumbling.

Sasuke pushed back quickly swiping toward Naruto who ducked under the strike before smashing a kick into Sasuke's side, Sasuke coughed as Naruto smashed a few punches across Sasuke's face before punching the teen hard enough to send him flying through several trees.

Sasuke rolled before his back hit another tree, the brunette quickly sucked in a breath to regain his composure, but it was immediately broken again by another punch to his gut. Sasuke coughed while his back was shoved against the tree again before another punch cracked across his face.

Naruto punched Sasukue rapidly while the other teen was pinned against the tree, Sasuke tried to block but the blonde continued to punch moving through the brunette's attempt at guarding, the wood of the tree Sasuke was pinned against trembled and cracked against Sasuke while Naruto swung.

Sassuke continued to get pummeled by Naruto against the tree while the teen continued to attempt to break free from the assault, Sasuke swiped at Naruto against who smacked his hand away before landing two heavy punches across his face.

The tree Sasuke was pinned against exploded into pieces as another punch that slammed into his gut sent him through it, the brunette recovered placing both of his hands on the ground kicking his leg toward Naruto who dropped to the ground sweeping Sasuke's hands off of the ground.

Sasuke spun before Naruto roundhouse kicked the teen sending Sasuke flying, the brunette recovered in midair flipping before he slapped his hand against the ground using the dirt as a way to slow himself down. When Sasuke finally came to a stop, he looked up toward Naruto who was walking toward through the destroyed trees.

The glare in his eyes was a cold blue.

Sasuke looked toward the blonde in surprise while he felt his curse mark begin to burn and try to grow, "I don't need this power yet." Sasuke growled to himself trying to prevent the curse mark that was growing automatically in response to the danger Sasuke was in.

"Sasuke! I can-"

"Don't you dare get in the way, Karin! You interfere and I'll kill you!"

Sasuke barked at Karin who flinched in response to Sasuke's words, the girl stood down while Sasuke quickly turned his head back toward Naruto quickly activating his Sharigan. He then caught sight of Naruto blocking the teen's attack.

Naruto swung rapidly while Sasuke was deflecting and countering the strikes more clearly, the blonde kicked toward Sasuke who grabbed the blonde's leg before throwing an elbow into Naruto's face causing the blonde to stagger.

Sasuke pushed him backward throwing jabs that hit Naruto before Sasuke kicked him away throwing shuriken after the blonde, Naruto landed on his feet while the shuriken stuck into the trees around him. The blonde's eyes caught sight of the shimmer of shuriken string before turning his glare toward Sasuke.

"Fire Style: Spilt Dragon Flames!"

Sasuke yelled while the shuriken string caught fire before exploding around Naruto, the brunette then started throwing shuriken that set on fire as soon as he threw them showering them into the flames around where Naruto was.

"What's wrong, Naruto? Is this all you've got?!"

Sasuke yelled while Tayuya watched behind Sasuke on the horse focusing her eyes on the flame before she noticed small sparks coming out of the flames, the black-haired teen continued to throw shuriken before he noticed the sparks beginning to increase.

His eyes widened slightly as he watched his shuriken clash against more shuriken, suddenly a shower of shuriken came flying out of the flames. Sasuke gritted his teeth before he threw more shuriken to try to counter against the shower of blades, but he was quickly overwhelmed.

Sasuke flipped backward, deflecting a few shuriken as he landed, his eyes flicked toward the shuriken that puffed into smoke revealing two clones. Sasuke avoided the attacks from the clones while they attacked him, the brunette quickly countered cutting down one of the clones before he shot fire in the face of the other making it disappear.

"Still using your clones for tricks!?"

Sasuke yelled before he was dropkicked backward, "Formation 9!" the clone that kicked Sasuke yelled before it disappeared. Sasuke gritted his teeth before he tried flipping to land but hands grabbed onto his ankles, the teen's face swung downward into a knee to the face.

Sasuke flipped into the air where another knee was slammed into him sending him flying higher into the air, another clone grabbed onto Sasuke bicycle kicking him higher up the chain of clones that were using each other as supports to fling Sasuke higher into the air.

Another clone at the top of the chain grabbed Sasuke's legs and began to spin him in the air along with the rest of the chain as they launched him into the air, Sasuke flipped through the sky while he formed hand signs. A punch was thrown toward him while Sasuke's Sharingan glared.

"Chidori!"

Sasuke yelled while his hand cracked to life with lighting as he swiftly punched his hand through the chest of his attacker, Sasuke glared while the clone grabbed onto his holding it tightly. The black-haired teen tried to pry his hand free before he noticed the clone begin to glow.

An explosion of wind sent Sasuke flying toward the ground where Naruto and a clone were waiting for him, Sasuke unsheathed his sword quickly, cutting through the clone before running his sword into Naruto's chest deeply.

"You still think crap like this is going to work?!"

Sasuke yelled while Naruto suddenly puffed away into smoke, the black-haired teen looked around in confusion as the ground underneath him cracked. A heavy uppercut slammed underneath Sasuke's jaw as Naruto launched out of the ground.

Naruto spun before he punched Sasuke again launching the teen into several trees, the blonde watched lightning gathering before cracking to life as Sasuke launched himself out of the debris he was in sprinting toward Naruto at full speed.

"Chidori!"

Sasuke yelled while Naruto looked before him as his eyes widened, he then turned back toward Sasuke who thrusted his hand forward. "Show me that Rasengan again, Naruto!" Sasuke yelled while his hand thrusted closer to the blonde who lifted his palm.

Sasuke's lightning covered hand struck against Naruto's but he felt himself unable to push it forward, Sasuke's eyes widened as he noticed his Chidori wasn't even touching Naruto's palm instead it was blocked by a layer of air.

"I don't need it."

Naruto said while Sasuke could feel the wind chakra beginning to dissipate his Chidori, 'He's holding back the Chidori with wind chakra?!' Sasuke thought to himself while the blonde stared into his Sharingan pushing the black-haired teen back.

"You're playing this way too risky getting people who aren't involved in our fight in the crossfire."

Naruto said while he was standing directly in front of both Karin and Tayuya who was on the horse, "Who cares? I'll end you all in one fell swoop if it means you die." Sasuke said while the blonde glared heavily at the brunette.

"Let's move this, I'm tired of your damn attitude now!"

Naruto raised his voice as he pushed his palm causing the wind chakra to explode sending Sasuke flying backward deeper into the forest, Karin looked at the blonde's back while his scarf waved in the wind as he began walking after Sasuke.

The girl trembled as she pulled out a kunai, "If his back is turned then…" Karin said while she heard a snort come from the horse, her red eyes glared toward the girl sitting on the back of the horse.

"I hate to break it to you, Side Piece… but your little Uchiha…"

Tayuya trailed off while Naruto blasted forward causing the wind to blow through Tayuya's hair making it sway as she closed her eyes taking a deep breath. "Yeah… He's fucked." Tayuya spoke while Karin growled at her before looking toward where Naruto blasted off to.

"Sasuke!"

Karin screamed while the black-haired teen stabbed his sword into the ground to stop himself from flying, meanwhile Naruto landed staring the boy down. "You've gotten a little stronger, guess I could have expected at least that much from a loser like you." Sasuke said while Naruto sighed.
"Sasuke, we can still stop this. If we continue to fight, one of us is going to be killed."

Naruto said while Sasuke scoffed, "That's the entire damn point. Even with your increase in power you're still too much of a coward to face me properly. You still think we're on the same side. Like I'm going to snap to my senses with a few punches." Sasuke said while he stood to his feet.

"No, that isn't going to work on me. I'm not weak and I'm certainly not weaker than you. I'm not weak enough to be abandoned and tossed away like you were. If you don't want to fight, then just die."

Sasuke said while he pointed his sword toward Naruto who clenched his fist, "Why can't you get anything I'm saying through your thick skull!" Naruto yelled as he ducked backward from a slash. Sasuke advanced, slashing at Naruto again while the blonde avoided it.

"Shut up and fight!"

Sasuke yelled while Naruto avoided a few more slashes before pulling out a kunai, the blonde deflected several slashes from Sasuke using his kunai. Sasuke slashed heavily striking at Naruto's guard while the blonde kept up with his pace using the kunai, Sasuke slashed downward while Naruto blocked it.

Naruto pushed back against Sasuke while the boy's Sharingan glared toward the blonde, Sasuke's blade began cutting into the kunai slowly slicing through it. Sasuke pushed down heavily, continuing to cut through the kunai while Naruto pushed against his sword.

Sasuke quickly pushed down cutting through the kunai before he turned and kicked Naruto in the gut before slashing toward him with his sword, the blonde barely avoided the slash before weaving through several more slashes.

Naruto kicked the hilt of Sasuke's sword lifting its blade away from his forehead while he reached into his pouch, he pulled out a scroll before tossing it into the air, dodging another slash in the process bedding out of the way of it.

Sasuke looked toward the falling scroll cutting it in half right in front of Naruto causing smoke to puff out of it, Sasuke's Sharingan could still see Naruto through the smoke while he thrusted forward with his blade toward the blonde.

The sound of metal ringing echoed through the air while Sasuke's eyes widened, the tip of his blade was caught on an engraving of a spiral on steel. Naruto lifted his blade before deflecting Sasuke's sword and kicking the black-haired teen away.

Sasuke slid backward while he looked toward Naruto, he spotted the katana in Naruto's hands while the blonde moved into a sword stance. Naruto glared toward Sasuke who growled before he thrusted toward the blonde who moved out of the way of the thrust placing his foot on the back of Sasuke's blade pushing it downward.

Naruto then stepped off of the blade backflip kicking Sasuke in the face before quickly landing on his feet, "Wind Stance: Iaido Moonslice!" the blonde yelled as he quickly dashed from where he landed, slashing toward Sasuke with the slash that the black-haired boy barely blocked. Naruto then engaged Sasuke in close combat with their blades.

Sparks flew while their blades clashed against each other, Sasuke struggled to match Naruto who aggressively struck Sasuke's blade with his sword. 'His swordsmenship, it's unreal! I can barely keep up even with my Sharingan, it's almost as if he's fought thousands of battles with this sword!' Sasuke analyzed while a heavy strike from Naruto clashed against his blade.

Naruto spun and kicked Sasuke in his chest he then struck at the black-haired teen who tried to block the strike only for a cut in his sleeve to open up, Sasuke went on the offensive trying to push back but Naruto deflected and countered his strikes.

More sparks flew between the boy's swords while cuts started appearing on Sasuke's clothes during their clash of blades, Naruto's sword weaved through openings made by Sasuke cutting the black-haired teen while he struggled to defend.

Naruto stomped his foot and swung his blade in a circle, Sasuke blocked the strike but was hit by the slash of wind that followed it up. The teen staggered while Naruto advanced, slashing toward Sasuke whose guard was slowly breaking from the pressure of the blonde's strikes.

Sasuke planted his foot and leaned away from a downward slash from Naruto creating an opening he struck, the brunette kicked Naruto before deflecting his sword. Sasuke hit Naruto with a few more kicks before roundhouse kicking the boy away.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

Sasuke yelled while he blasted a massive fireball toward where Naruto was flying while he dashed toward the fireball following it, the fireball exploded while Sasuke slashed into the exploding flames. Naruto deflected the strike pushing back the black-haired teen with a blast of wind.

Sasuke recovered, landing on his feet as Naruto landed in front of him gently on a single foot before spinning slowly, "Wind Stance: Dancing Gale." The blonde spoke calmly while Sasuke was suddenly slammed against by a flurry of slashes from Naruto.

The ground was cut into while Sasuke could hardly defend any of the extremely fast wind slashes, the slashes began cutting into Sasuke making the boy bleed while he watched as Naruto quickly and calmly moved through the slashes without interruptions.

Moving as freely as the wind.

Naruto unleashed a few more heavy slashes before ending his combo with a stomp of his foot and a quick heavy slash that cut into Sasuke's side sending blood flying into the air, Sasuke coughed from the sheer amount of pain while he was blasted backward.

"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"

Sasuke yelled as he aimed a roaring stream of flames toward Naruto, the blonde dodged the steam before running away from it as the stream of fire arched toward him burning everything in its path. Naruto ran from the flames before brandishing his sword, the flames reached the blonde who slashed into them.

Naruto dragged his blade through the flames down the stream toward Sasuke who continued blasting the stream toward the approaching blonde, as Naruto got closer Sasuke glared adding more power to the stream of fire while the blonde continued cutting through it toward the black-haired teen.

Naruto almost caught up to Sasuke who leaned back before adding maximum power to the flames blasting them toward Naruto while the blonde lifted his blade "Wind Stance: Blast Reflection!" Naruto yelled while wind came from his slash bouncing the dragon flame back at Sasuke at close range causing an explosion.

Sasuke flew out of the smoke rolling on the ground before getting back to his feet, "There's no way he's this strong! His Taijutsu and kenjustu are on par no… they may even surpass my own. Close combat with him is dangerous yet even from a distance he still maintains that strength. He's doing something to himself he has to be!" Sasuke yelled while Naruto blasted toward him thrusting his sword toward him.

Sasuke quickly stuck his hands out while Naruto blasted toward him, "Chidori Stream!" Sasuke yelled as he unleashed a barrier of electricity that the blonde ran into stopping him in his tracks. Sasuke slashed toward him while Naruto quickly reacted, clashing his blade against Sasuke's.

Sasuke quickly stared into Naruto's eyes with his Sharingan making the tomoe in them spin, "This power it has to be!" Sasuke raised his voice while suddenly his feet dipped into water.

"The Fox."

Sasuke spoke while he stared toward a cage, within that cage he saw tails moving before red eyes glared toward him.

"Uchiha."

The Nine Tailed Fox growled while Sasuke stared down the caged beast, "Still safeguarding over this idiot? Not letting him fight his own battles? Looks like you're both cowards." Sasuke said while Kurama growled before he headbutted his cage.

His chakra bubbled through the bars of the cage until it made his head again outside of it, Sasuke then reached his hand out holding back the head of the Nine Tailed Fox by his nose.

"If it were up to me, I'd have you skinned and roasted alive, Uchiha brat. I'll take those cursed eyes out of your head with my teeth."

Kurama growled while Sasuke glared at the fox with his Sharingan, "I'm pushing you back inside of your cage, I won't let you continue to use your power to boost his. He's weak so he'll die by his own weakness, no more interference from you." Sasuke said while Kurama blinked before his eyes widened.

Kuruma's voice started rumbling before a chuckle came from his throat that turned into full blown laughter while Sasuke glared at the fox head clenching his hand on the Tailed Beasts nose making the head begin to bubble.

"What the hell are you laughing at?"

Sasuke growled while Kurama continued laughing at the black haired boy, "You honestly think that highly of yourself? How arrogant. Even with the visual prowess of the Sharingan you're blind… you think that this strength that the brat has is mine?" Kurama laughed while Sasuke glared.

"Enough!"

Sasuke raised his voice while Kurama glared, "I haven't even given him an ounce of my chakra yet. Not a single drop." The fox said while Sasuke gave the fox a confused look.

"You're lying."

Sasuke said while the fox huffed, "Lying? Lying for who? You think I have a reason to lie for this brat? Everything you are fighting right now… is all the brat by himself." Kurama said with a chuckle while Sasuke gritted his teeth.

"That's not possible, there's no way it can be. He can't be this strong."

Sasuke said while Kurama growled, "You're afraid… Afraid of the brat. Pathetic." Kurama said while the black-haired teen glared.

"I'm not falling for your taunts or games, Demon."

Sasuke said while Kurama laughed, "You really are scared of him, looking for any explanation whatsoever to explain the difference between you too. Poor Uchiha, can't even accept the fact that you're just weak…. A shame you didn't die off with the rest of your arrogant clan. Would've done the world a favor." Kurama said while Sasuke clenched his fist.

"Shut up."

Sasuke growled while Kurama grinned, "You should be thankful, little Uchiha. Even after everything you've done, the brat is still protecting you. The moment he even slips a little bit in his fight with you I'll unleash as much of my chakra as possible and use his hands to split your skull and paint the land with your blood." Kurama said while Sasuke gripped that fox's nose tighter.

"Enough, I'm in control here!"

Sasuke yelled while Kurama chuckled, "In control? You are severely mistaken, Uchiha. These bars aren't here for me, they're here for you. You think I'm trapped in here with you… No… You're trapped in here with me!" Kurama roared while he began to open his jaw while Sasuke tried squeezing to pop the bubbles but they wouldn't.

Kurama lifted his jaw over Sasuke to clamp it down on top of him Sasuke readied his hand to strike the fox but they were both stopped.

"You done?"

Naruto asked while he held onto Sasuke's wrist while his other hand was holding onto Kurama's jaw, Sasuke heard the fox groan while the blonde looked toward him. "Looks like I'll have to enjoy your misery from here, but remember what I said… The minute he slips…" Kurama threatened while Naruto narrowed his eyes toward the fox.

"I won't."

Naruto said while his blue glare turned back toward Sasuke who looked at the blonde with shock while suddenly the area around them shattered into pieces, they were both in the outside world again with their swords pushed against each other.

"How did you?!"

Sasuke raised his voice while Naruto quickly cracked him across the face with a punch before kicking Sasuke out of the forest the black-haired teen flipped while the blonde dashed out of the trees slashing his sword toward Sasuke's while the black-haired teen was put on the defensive.

Sasuke blocked and deflected whatever he could while Naruto pushed forward applying more pressure against the brunette, "Why are you so insistent on hatred and power?! Why are you letting yourself drown in it!? To the point where you're just lost now!" the blonde yelled while Sasuke deflected another blow.

"Shut up!"

Sasuke yelled while he kicked Naruto backward, "Chidori Stream!" Sasuke yelled while the blonde struck against the electrical barrier a few times before he flipped "Wind Stance: Formless Gale!" the blonde before launching a wind slash that slammed against the electrical barrier.

Sasuke flinched but he kept it up, 'I need a few moments, once he strikes again, I'll let down the barrier and take advantage of his opening.' the black-haired thought to himself while he watched Naruto's stance disappear while he slowly moved his blade.

"Formless Stance…"

Naruto said while Sasuke gave him a surprised look as the wind gathered violently shaking the grass underneath their feet, the blonde moved in a burst faster than even the Sharingan could see slamming into the electrified barrier breaking it before he swung his sword.

"Brave Dance of the Roaring Tempest!"

Naruto yelled while they both exploded off of the ground, Sasuke was pushed through the air by Naruto until his back smashed into the cliffside they landed on. Sasuke coughed while Naruto punched the boy smashing his face through the rock on the cliff.

Sasuke roared, launching Naruto off of the cliff they were on with a kick, the blonde flipped as he landed on his feet below on the ground. "I'm getting sick of you, Naruto!" Sasuke yelled while he grabbed his wrist and summoned violently cracking lightning to his palm.

"I've had enough of you!"

Sasuke yelled while Naruto watched the black-haired teen prepare his attack while he took a deep breath, the blonde extended his palm outward while chakra began to spiral in it. The Rasengan formed while Sasuke began dashing down the cliff.

"Don't care what you say! You're still weak!"

Sasuke yelled while Naruto ran toward the black-haired boy lifting his jutsu, the two teens ran at each other while their respective jutsu roared. They were right in front of each other when they threw their techniques at each other.

"Rasengan!"

"Chidori!"

The two jutsu clashed violently, shaking the trees and rocks of their surroundings as they clashed violently, Sasuke gritted his teeth and pushed against Naruto's Rasengan while the blonde pushed back gritting his teeth as well.

"Face it, Naruto. Even after everything you're still just too weak!"

Sasuke yelled pushing Naruto backward while the blonde's glare faded into a slightly hurt expression against Sasuke's glare filled with frustration as he pushed against the blonde's technique, the blonde closed his eyes while he stayed firm.

"Sasuke…"

Naruto said before he clenched his teeth, Sasuke felt himself getting pushed backward while Naruto's glare returned. Sasuke yelled as he tried pushing back but his feet were beginning to slide while Naruto pushed back harder and harder.

"Damn it, Sasuke!"

Naruto roared before he pushed back, breaking past the Chidori blasting Sasuke into the cliff wall, the black-haired teen coughed as he slammed against it. "Narut-" Sasuke was about to yell out but he was interrupted by a hard punch to his gut.

Sasuke coughed while Naruto pulled the boy's face into his knee smashing it against his nose before letting Sasuke's back hit the wall, the blonde then kicked Sasuke's chest twice with his foot crushing him deeper into the wall.

Naruto continued his onslaught punching Sasuke in the face with heavy punches before alternating to his chest back to his face without stopping, the black-haired teen couldn't move at all while Naruto was wailing on him crushing the rock behind him in the process.

The rock crumbled and crushed with every punch Naruto threw while he kept swinging at Sasuke shaking the cliff with his punches, Naruto punched the black-haired teen haired enough for him to bounce off of the wall before Naruto grabbed him and threw him back against it before kicking him deeper into the cliff.

Sasuke watched Naruto unable to move while the blonde pummeled him into the rock wall, the entire time his blue eyes flaring as he punched Sasuke harder and harder more rocks began to crumble around Sasuke while Naruto attacked him.

Another punch slammed Sasuke's face while the black-haired teen heard a ringing sound, 'What is this… he's never fought like this before… is this what he's like…' Sasuke thought to himself while Naruto punched Sasuke hard enough for blood to fly out of his mouth.

Sasuke's Sharingan could only see the blue glare of the boy pummeling him while he kept swinging to attack him.

'When he's fighting to kill someone?'

Sasuke thought to himself as his back hit the wall again, Naruto planted a foot swinging his fist and slamming the punch against Sasuke's face hard enough to crack most of the cliff sending rocks falling on top of the black-haired boy.

Naruto looked at the rocks that fell on top of the black-haired boy while he panted, he reached into the rocks and pulled out a beaten Sasuke who coughed. The blonde gripped the beaten teen in his grip while he continued to pant.

Sasuke looked toward Naruto weakly while the blonde took a deep breath before shoving the black-haired teen onto the rocks, Sasuke coughed again as he landed while Naruto glared down at him. "This is… as far as this goes…" the blonde said while Sasuke glared at him.

"It's over."

Naruto said while he glared down at Sasuke who gritted his teeth and clenched his fist.

{...}

Sasuke stood over Naruto while he was on the ground after being defeated in their last clash at the Final Valley.

Sasuke remembered how the light of the sun slowly shrank from the storm clouds coming in, the light from the sun shrank on Naruto's face until it disappeared with the rain.

That was almost a year ago.

Now…

Sasuke coughed while he panted as Naruto stared down at him lying in the rubble of the side of the destroyed cliff.

"It's over."

Naruto said while Sasuke stared at him, "Over?" The black-haired teen said while the blonde closed his eyes.

"Sasuke, I… I just wanted to save you and bring you home. I just wanted you to face that feeling you had with the people who cared about you instead of letting it consume you alone."

Naruto said while Sasuke looked at the blonde, he felt his forehead bleeding while the blonde shook his head. "How? How can I do it, Sasuke? How do I save you?" Naruto asked while Sasuke stared toward his old friend, he had grown far too strong in the span of time he had spent in the world alone.

What kind of things did he go through?

What kind of thoughts did he have?

What did he have to push himself through to gain so much strength?

What did Naruto have that he didn't?

Sasuke then saw Itachi standing where Naruto was looking down on him, the visage of his older brother leaned toward him.

"You don't have enough hatred, Sasuke. You're weak."

Itachi spoke while Sasuke gritted his teeth harder before Naruto appeared before him again looking toward him with those almost pleading blue eyes.

Looking down on him.

Like he was weaker than him.

Sasuke huffed before he started to chuckle, "Save me?" The black-haired teen said while the burn of the curse mark began to spread across his skin.

Naruto quickly put his guard up as a punch slammed against it sending him flying backward into the field of grass. Naruto flipped landing on his feet while Sasuke rose to his feet, the curse mark continued growing across his features.

"I hate him… I hate Itachi more than I have ever thought about our bond. From the minute I saw your power against Gaara, the only thing I've wanted to do is break that bond!"

Sasuke yelled while Naruto stared toward him down the field, "Power is all I've ever needed, not any of your weakness. This hatred is all I've ever had. Anything else pales in comparison! I don't need your pity or your compassion!" Sasuke yelled while the curse mark stopped growing covering most of his face.

"I only need you to die, Naruto! Save me?! No, there's only one way this ends, and you and I both know that! You're lying to yourself if you think otherwise!"

Sasuke yelled while Naruto's glare softened looking toward his old friend who drew his sword walking toward him. "Naruto, your weakness will be the end of you. I'll be that end!" Sasuke yelled while leaning backward before shooting three large fireballs toward Naruto that turned into dragon heads.

Naruto quickly dashed backward avoiding the large flames as they pursued him, the blonde blasted himself into the air while the dragon head exploded where he was standing.

Sasuke spun kicking Naruto from above into the fire below while he spun his sword downward slicing down toward Naruto. The blonde quickly deflected the strike with his own sword while the two teens clashed, extinguishing the flames around them with every clash.

Sasuke felt himself getting pushed back by Naruto as the blonde attacked aggressively, the black-haired teen gritted his teeth deflecting a strike and following up with a kick.

Naruto slid backward while Sasuke threw his sword at the blonde, Naruto quickly lifted his blade to block as Sasuke lifted this hand using the other to hold on to his wrist. Sasuke's sword cloaked with lightning shooting toward Naruto even faster while the blonde deflected the strong impact with his own sword.

Sasuke dashed quickly, disarming Naruto of his sword before cracking the blonde across the face hard enough for most of the grass in the field to sway from the impact.

Naruto's sword spun while Sasuke pulled the blonde back in for another few punches before landing two hard kicks into his chest.

"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"

Sasuke yelled while a large blanket of flames blasted toward Naruto, the black-haired teen increased the firepower making the large stream of flames even bigger. The flames exploded away from Naruto while he began forming hand signs, Sasuke dashed kicking toward the blonde who dodged the kick.

Sasuke then grabbed Naruto's hand and began making hand signs with it, the blonde's eyes widened while he followed suit using Sasuke's hand to form hand signs as well.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

"Wind Style: Great Gale Separation!"

The two teens yelled, unleashing their jutsu at the same time, creating a large explosion that caused the entire field to sway violently.

Karin and Tayuya, still in the forest, could feel the impact of the explosion even from where they were standing.

"Is there really nothing I can do for Sasuke?"

Karin asked while Tayuya huffed, "Jeez, you're just some giant fucking wimp aren't you? Crying over that emo bastard like a damn groupie, just sit back, shut up, and watch him lose." The pinkette said while Karin narrowed her eyes at her before she looked toward the horse.

In the field Naruto flew before flipping landed back on his feet while Sasuke threw a kick that Naruto blocked. Sasuke threw a few more punches while Naruto blocked them, the black-haired teen reached his hand out while his sword sparked.

The blonde ducked under the approaching blade as Sasuke pulled it to himself using his lightning, the black-haired teen then slashed toward Naruto cutting into his shirt.

Naruto tossed up a kunai before back kicking the blade using it to deflect a slash from Sasuke while he lifted two fingers. A gust blew from behind Sasuke while the teen avoided Naruto's sword that flew toward him, the blonde caught his blade out of the air deflecting Sasuke's strikes.

The boys clashed aggressively before a hard clash knocked their weapons out of their hands, the two boys glared at each other before they grabbed each other's swords.

Sasuke felt the heavier weight difference in Naruto's sword while he felt the same but lighter with Sasuke's sword.

The teens then began clashing blades slowly adjusting to each other's swords, Naruto deflected a few heavy strikes from Sasuke while the black-haired teen blocked and countered Naruto's strikes.

They clashed in the middle, Sasuke kicked Naruto while Naruto punched Sasuke sending them both flying away from each other. They threw their swords at each other catching them out of the air as they landed on their feet before in a burst from both of them, they clashed aggressively in the middle.

Naruto and Sasuke pushed against each other while the sound of clopping caught the blonde's attention.

"Sasuke! I've got Tayuya! Hurry up and finish this!"

Karin said while she had Tayuya in a hold with a kunai pressed to her neck, "Real fucking cute." Tayuya said while Karin pressed the blade on her neck harder.

"Tayuya!"

Naruto yelled while Sasuke threw a punch that hit the blonde in the face, the black-haired teen's Sharingan widened as the blonde didn't even flinch from the hard punch. Naruto quickly disarmed Sasuke, cracking the boy across the face with a few punches dropping his own sword as well.

Sasuke tried to block Naruto's assault, but the blonde hits landed quickly and heavily against him in succession. Naruto did a back handspring kicking Sasuke toward three clones that had appeared, Sasuke fell toward the clones who attacked him. Sasuke was kicked into the air by two of the clones while the third one blasted through the air changing the air pressure as it kicked Sasuke.

"Uzumaki Barrage ver. 2!"

The clone yelled while Sasuke crashed to the ground, "Sasuke!" Karin yelled before she was headbutted in the face with the back of Tayuya's head.

"Before you take a hostage, make sure you can actually hold them. Dumbass!"

Tayuya said putting Karin into a chokehold, "Shithead! Just focus on the fight!" The pinkette yelled while Naruto nodded.

"Right!"

Sasuke flew, throwing a punch toward Naruto that the blonde dodged, Naruto blocked another punch as he extended his hand toward Tayuya, Karin, and the horse.

A gust of wind blew them backward away from the next explosion that formed around the two fighting teens.

Naruto adopted a kickboxing stance while Sasuke growled, "Damn you!" The black-haired teen yelled while he attacked Naruto. The blonde blocked the strikes before slamming a punch into Sasuke's side, quickly following up with a heavy kick to his other side.

Naruto threw a few hooks across Sasuke's face while ending his combo with a kick, the blonde then threw shuriken in the black-haired boy's direction.

The thrown shuriken they puffed into clones that surrounded Sasuke in a circle where he landed, each of the clones began forming wind chakra in hands while Sasuke growled and extended his hands outward.

"Chidori Strea-"

The black-haired teen was cut off by a heavy punch making him stagger, then another punch, and another after that one.

Sasuke was caught in a volley of punches while Naruto formed wind chakra around his feet propelling himself around the ring of clones at high speed while attacking Sasuke in the middle of the ring. Sasuke continued taking punches from all sides from Naruto blasting around the ring of clones he made, the black-haired teen roared after taking another punch.

"Chidori Stream!"

The lighting exploded around Sasuke destroying most of the clones while Naruto launched himself into the air, a clone jumped behind him gathering wind chakra around its leg kicking Naruto's feet.

"Railgun!"

Naruto yelled while he broke the sound barrier slamming a punch into Sasuke sending the black-haired teen crashing to the ground.

Sasuke rolled out of the smoke getting back to his feet while growling, a Rasengan slammed against him while the clone puffed away on impact. Sasuke flew backward while another clone slammed another Rasengan against him puffing away on impact as well.

"Rasengan Circuit!"

Naruto yelled slamming the third and final Rasengan against Sasuke blasting the black-haired teen backward in a spiral crashing into the ground.

Dirt flew up and showered around the beaten Sasuke while the teen coughed in the crater he was in.

"Even the curse mark isn't enough?"

Sasuke asked while he clenched his finger into the dirt around him, "I have enough hate… I have more than enough!" the black-haired teen yelled while Naruto flinched at the burst of chakra that came from the crater.

"You aren't stronger than me! You don't have anything!"

Sasuke yelled while the darkening chakra spread across the field, "Sasuke…" Naruto said while the black-haired teen punched the ground.

"Power… I need more power! I won't dare lose here! Not against you!"

Sasuke yelled while the grass swayed violently, the horse Tayuya and Karin were on, neighed in fear while Tayuya stared toward where Sasuke landed. She then slapped a hand to her neck as pain shot through it, Karin escaped out of the chokehold staring toward the dark chakra.

"Sasuke!"

Karin yelled while a burst caused the grass around them to blow backward before there was a stillness. Naruto watched as slowly Sasuke floated out of the hole, his skin darkened while a black mark formed on his face.

The wings sprouting out of his back extend widely as his hair finished growing, changing into a bluish color. Sasuke slowly looked down at Naruto with his arms extended outward while the sclera around his Sharingan blackened.

"Sasuke!"

Naruto yelled while the teen now on curse mark stage 2 cracked a grin on his face taking in a deep breath.

"I'll bury you."

Sasuke said in a gentle yet menacing tone while Naruto was suddenly sent flying backward, the blonde rolled while Sasuke flew above him landing on top of Naruto. Naruto coughed while Sasuke smirked down at him, he then lifted his fist and punched the blonde hard enough for the ground to shake around them.

"Fight, Naruto! Fight!"

Sasuke yelled as he threw multiple punches at the blonde pummeling him into the ground while he laughed.

"FIGHT!"

Sasuke roared while slamming another punch into Naruto making the blonde cough up blood before grabbing him by his collar and pulling him into the air. Naruto grabbed Sasuke's wrist while the teen flew through the air, Sasuke pushed the blonde into the ground while he flew, dragging him across it. Sasuke then lifted his hand, his sword flew to his hand where he caught it.

Naruto did the same pulling his sword back to him deflecting a strike from the teen.

"That's it, Naruto!"

Sasuke yelled while Naruto deflected another blow from Sasuke's sword right before he was about to thrust his blade forward.

Naruto stopped when he remembered the illusion in the forest in the Land of Iron, the vision of his sword in Sasuke's neck made him stop. Sasuke then slammed a headbutt against Naruto's face making blood fly out of the blonde's face before he threw him.

Sasuke shot a massive fireball at Naruto that sent the teen exploding toward the ground, the blonde coughed slowly sitting up in the crater he was in.

Sasuke landed in front of him slamming another heavy punch across his face, "I knew it! I knew you were still weak! That you can't do it!" The teen yelled while cracking Naruto in the face with multiple punches.

"You just can't stand it, can you?! Can't stand knowing that the time we were friends fighting alongside each other is over! Done! Finished!"

Sasuke yelled while pummeling Naruto, the blonde took hit after hit while Sasuke kicked him, sending him flying into the ground.

"You just wanted it to be your way, to say a few kind words and shower with understanding you don't even have! To bring me back! To keep your normal life!"

Sasuke yelled while he beat Naruto into the ground, "You've never understood me! Not even for a second! You haven't lost what I lost! You haven't had what I had! You never hated! You never lived with that hatred! Every! Single! Day!" Sasuke hit harder and harder.

"You were born with nothing! Not a single soul to lose! That's all you are, Naruto! You're just nothing!"

Sasuke yelled, punching Naruto deeper into the crater, he looked down at the beaten blonde while he extended his palm.

"I'm all you have left… The same goes for me. I'll get rid of you and become nothing too. Unlocking that power, that will fulfill my hatred."

Sasuke said while black lightning cracked to life on his hand as he extended it backward, "I'll completely destroy your heart this time, no getting back up from that. This is goodbye old friend…" Sasuke said, striking his hand forward toward Naruto.

"Save me… you can't."

Sasuke said while the Chidori went right for Naruto's heart.

"Brat! Draw my chakra! I refuse to end because of your sentimentality! Now draw!"

Kurama yelled while Naruto sat in front of the cage with an unreached expression on his face before he punched his leg. Kurama watched Naruto stand up and begin walking away from the cage, the fox's eyes widened as he watched the blonde walk away.

"Brat! Damn it! BRAT!"

The Nine Tailed Fox roared after Naruto as he continued walking away from the cage clenching a fist.

"...I can't."

Naruto said while Sasuke gritted his teeth in the outside world, the hand caught around his wrist preventing it from reaching the blonde. Naruto gripped his hand around Sasuke's wrist pushing it backward while Sasuke tried to push it forward.

"How frustrating…"

Naruto said while Sasuke was blasted backward by a gust of wind, Sasuke caught himself floating down to his feet while the blonde stood up. His nails shrank down along with his whiskers, he opened his eyes that were a reddish color that faded into purple before his normal blue color.

"NARUTO!"

Sasuke roared while he blasted toward Naruto who speechlessly lifted his sword, "Formless Stance: Gale." The blonde spoke as he dashed forward, cutting his blade smoothly in the air in a circle.

Sasuke avoided the first slash however he was blasted backward by the multiple other wind slashes that came from Naruto's blade.

Sasuke landed while he growled, "Chidori Stream!" The teen yelled while a large barrier of black lightning surrounded the boy.

Sasuke took his sword stabbing it into the lightning cloaking his sword in the lightning, he spun launching two black lighting slashes toward Naruto. Naruto ran toward the slashes; he avoided one of them before turning his sword to catch the other one on his blade.

Naruto jumped into the air with the black lightning crackling on his sword as he launched it back at Sasuke, Sasuke turned catching the lightning slash with his blade before launching back at Naruto with more power.

The blonde caught the slash with his blade again launching it back, the teens caught and reflected the black lightning slash back and forth until their blade clashed.

The black lightning cracked into a large barrier around them both burning away the grass around them, Sasuke thrusted his lightning-cloaked sword forward while Naruto slammed his foot on the back of his blade.

Naruto then kneed Sasuke in the chest slamming a few kicks into him as well before slashing forward, Sasuke could barely see the more fluid movements of the Formless Stance as Naruto slid behind him.

Sasuke groaned as slashes cut into his blood sending blood flying into the air, the teen turned to attack Naruto who deflected his slashes in succession before launching Sasuke backward with a hard punch.

"You just don't give up!"

Sasuke yelled while Naruto glared at him before he pulled out a scroll sealing his sword into it, "What are you doing?" Sasuke asked while Naruto clenched his fists.

"You asked me to fight. So, we'll fight."

Naruto said while Sasuke gritted his teeth while growling, he flew toward Naruto slashing his sword toward the boy who dodged the blade. Sasuke continued to attack aggressively with his sword slashing at Naruto who was weaving through the slashes.

Sasuke kicked him backward before swinging a heavy downward slash toward Naruto, the blonde lifted his hands catching the blade between them with the clap of his hands. Naruto tugged the blade out of Sasuke's grip before throwing it at the boy with a wind enhanced throw, the hilt slammed against Sasuke's body while the air pressure changed as Naruto punched Sasuke across the face.

Sasuke flew from the punch while crashing into the ground, Naruto walked toward him while Sasuke panted.

"That's enough!"

Sasuke yelled flying toward Naruto again where the two teens engaged in close combat, "Why refuse the Fox's power?! I saw it! I saw you pushing it back, why?!" Sasuke asked while the teens exchanged blows as Naruto kicked him backward.

"This has to end just like this, Sasuke."

Naruto said while Sasuke glared at him, "You're still looking down on me!" The teen roared while he exploded into close combat with Naruto again.

They traded blows while Sasuke dodged a punch kicking Naruto backward forming hand signs, "Fire Style: Great Fireball Blitz!" Sasuke yelled while he shot the fireballs that turned into dragon heads.

Naruto did a back handspring before the fireballs showered upon him; Sasuke then watched the flames begin to spin forming a sphere. Naruto spun, rotating the sphere of flames before launching it back toward Sasuke.

The flames roared while Sasuke put his hand on his wrist while black lightning crackled to life as he aimed at the fireball.

"Chidori: True Spear!"

Sasuke yelled as the black lightning shot forward in a straight blade shredding the flames, Naruto leaned barely avoiding the spear while Sasuke waved his hand slashing toward Naruto with it.

The lightning cut into the ground like a laser burning into it while Naruto avoided the slashes.

In the distance Tayuya and Karin watched the fight while the red-haired girl clenched her fist looking toward the lightning.

"I don't understand that Naruto guy doesn't stand a chance against Sasuke like this. So why is he still fighting? Why does he still think he could even win?"

Karin asked while Tayuya huffed, "You're an idiot, that guy Naruto… he's already won." The pinkette said while Karin glared toward her.

"Even a fucking blind person can see it, I've never seen Shithead fight like this before. He's going all out because I think he finally realized what was truly at stake. What he wants to do. The minute that happened. It was over for Princess."

Tayuya said while Karin scoffed, "You don't know that! Sasuke wouldn't lose against some nobody like him!" the girl raised her voice while Tayuya smirked.

"Nobody?"

Tayuya said while she thought of the grin on Naruto's face before she chuckled at the thought.

"Nah… His name is Naruto. Bad news for the Princess is… he's his friend."

Tayuya said while Karin looked back toward the fight, "Sasuke…" she spoke while black lightning cracked across the sky.

Naruto avoided another slash while Sasuke roared swiping at him, the blonde began gathering wind around his fist while Sasuke slashed the spear toward him again. Naruto punched the spear, running his fist through it until he punched Sasuke, the teen then punched back at the blonde who blocked it.

"Each and every time we fought, I beat you without fail. What the hell makes you think that this time is going to be any different?"

Sasuke yelled while he blocked a few punches with his wings before he opened them up, throwing a flurry of punches at Naruto who deflected them before cupping his hands together and blasting Sasuke with a gust of wind.

"I almost forgot something important… you and I…. Neither one of us are the same people anymore. We're different now."

Naruto said while he punched Sasuke's guard while the teen countered, cracking the blonde across the face with a punch. "That means we aren't that same people that started this fight, we're different people that are finishing it." Naruto said while he kicked Sasuke backward, the blonde summoned clones that began blasting themselves toward Sasuke with attacks that the teen countered.

"I can't fight you with the same reason I did before, so I decided I won't. It ends this time, Sasuke."

Naruto said while some clones attacked Sasuke while others began to run in circles around him, Sasuke destroyed multiple clones while the clones circling him began to create a wind vortex around him.

Sasuke looked around himself while the clones continued to run, he watched them jump into the vortex getting caught in rotating quickly in it.

The clones then began to launch themselves out of the vortex blasting toward Sasuke while they began to glow. Sasuke's eyes widened as a shower of exploding wind clones attacked him creating a massive chain explosion propelling Sasuke upward.

"Uzumaki Vortex!"

The clones yelled while exploding while Sasuke yelled, a clone kicked Sasuke in the back before glowing. "Boss!" The clone yelled before exploding, launching Sasuke above the vortex toward a spinning Naruto who threw an axe kick toward Sasuke.

"There! Chidori Stream!"

Sasuke yelled, unleashing the barrier of black lighting that Naruto kicked against, causing it to explode. Sasuke flipped landing on the ground roughly while he panted, he looked up toward the sky where Naruto was flying upward.

Naruto felt the wind blowing around him while he closed his eyes, the breeze whipped past the blonde while he took a deep breath. Sasuke glared while Naruto adjusted his position looking down at Sasuke as he fell toward the growling teen.

"Damn you, Naruto! Why won't you just die?!"

Sasuke said while he grabbed his wrist causing black lightning to crack to life in his hand, Naruto then started falling toward Sasuke with his palm extended outward. Chakra spiraled in it while Sasuke flew into the air toward Naruto, "I'll break this damn bond!" Sasuke yelled while a Rasengan formed in the blonde's palm.

A clone was summoned spinning before kicking Naruto's feet propelling the blonde toward Sasuke.

"Chidori!"

"Rasengan!"

The jutsu clashed violently in the air while the wind shook the leaves of the trees in the forest along with the entirety of the grass in the clearing violently from the clashing techniques.

Karin and Tayuya covered their faces from the winds while the two teens in the air pushed against one another.

"We've done this before, Naruto! You know how this ends!"

Sasuke yelled while he pushed toward Naruto while the blonde pushed back, Sasuke felt himself being pushed toward the ground while Naruto gritted his teeth. "Screw that! The past is in the past. It's a different time now! I'll make my own ending!" Naruto pushed while Sasuke felt himself get pushed closer and closer to the ground, Sasuke kept pushing but kept moving toward the ground.

Slowly the air underneath them began to spiral into a black tornado around them as Sasuke got closer and closer to the ground.

Sasuke roared as he pushed against Naruto, the blonde's thoughts of his journey coming to his mind as he pushed back. Every defining moment and experience flashed to him while he pushed, Sasuke's feet hit the ground while the clash continued.

"You're still… just nothing! Naruto!"

Sasuke roared while the lightning in his palm cracked violently pushing back against Naruto while the blonde could feel the Chidori beginning to shred through his Rasengan.

"Damn it, Brat. Your jutsu is losing! It doesn't have enough power against his! Draw from my chakra already! Quit being stubborn!"

Kurama yelled in Naruto's head while the blonde closed his eyes before he opened them again, "No! I won't. Not this time!" the blonde yelled while he pushed back against the Chidori.

"I'm not giving up! No matter what, that's the one thing that hasn't changed! I'm not giving up on myself and I'm not giving up on my friends!"

Naruto yelled while Sasuke roared, pushing harder against the Rasengan' "Just Die!" The teen yelled while the Chidori cracked louder and larger.

"I'm putting all of myself in this technique, because I finally get it, Sasuke. That's why I'm not holding anything back anymore."

Naruto said while chakra began to be drawn into the Rasengan, the blue spiraling sphere began to spin faster and grow a little larger.

"I'm ending this, Sasuke!"

Naruto yelled while the Rasengan turned into a whiteish blue color pushing back against Sasuke who was slipping. The tornado around them turned white while Sasuke felt himself getting pushed into the ground.

"NARUTO!"

Sasuke roared while he pushed as hard as he could while the blonde pushed, in his head he remembered himself moving around the spiral while trying to master the Rasengan.

While the thoughts of the breeze blowing past him entered his thoughts.

"Wind Style: Flash Rasengan!"

Naruto yelled while the Rasengan grew larger and formed a small ring around it as Sasuke was pushed backward. A black sphere formed around the two boys while everything went quiet, they stared each other in the eyes while everything was floating.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes, throwing a punch but Naruto tilted himself to dodge it before glaring toward Sasuke as the sphere began to crack with white.

"BELIEVE IT!"

Naruto roared while he pushed against the Chidori, breaking through it before slamming the jutsu into Sasuke's body.

Sasuke roared while the tornado folded into itself before exploding outward, punching a hole in the clouds that form in the sky revealing the sunlight above. The field stopped shaking while Karin and Tayuya stared toward the massive crater, "SASUKE!" Karin screeched as she jumped off the horse and sprinted toward the crater. Tayuya gave the horse a little slap and began galloping toward the crater the two boys were located at.

Naruto stood over Sasuke who was lying inside the crater they created with their clash, the Sharingan fades back into his normal black colored eyes.

"...Why didn't you end it?"

Sasuke asked weakly on the ground while Naruto stared at him for a moment before clenching his fist tightly.

"You were right…"

Naruto spoke while Sasuke stared up toward the blonde who shook his head unballing his fist into an open hand.

"If you and I fight… it's only going to end with one of us dying. That's the only way it ends."

Naruto spoke while Karin pushed past him, "Sasuke!" The girl yelled sliding on the ground next to the downed boy.

Karin looked at Sasuke's beaten form before she pointed a Kunai at Naruto, the blonde gave her an unbothered look as his eyes trailed back to Sasuke.

"...But I wasn't satisfied with that ending, so I chose a different one."

Naruto spoke while Tayuya stopped the horse a little further behind the blonde, "You and I are different people now. You aren't the same guy who left the village while trying to sever your bonds… and I'm not the same person who would have fought through anything to get you back.' The blonde said while Sasuke's eyes widened slightly.

"How do I save you? That was the question I asked… you don't know how many times I've asked that question. Thought of the thousands of ways I could have done something, something different. Anything, to save you… I can't change the past. I always knew the answer, but I didn't want to accept it. Today confirmed it though."

Naruto said while the blonde pointed toward the downed teen now in Karin's lap, his expression slowly changing to disbelief.

"I can't save you."

Naruto said while he put his hand down, "Worst part about that is, I'm strong enough to kill you. I'm still not strong enough to save you… I don't think I ever will be." The blonde said while Karin lowered her kunai a little.

"The things you're going through, the hatred that you're feeling. I can't wipe that away like it's nothing just because I want to. It's a part of you that you have to face and come to your own terms with. I can't save you because you can only save yourself."

The blonde said while Sasuke sat up a little, "Sasuke, try not to move." Karin warned while the teen ignored her.

"So, that's it… you think you're high and mighty now because you learned a thing or two during your banishment. You're still weak."

Sasuke said while Naruto looked at him unfazed, "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you when you needed me the most, Sasuke. I'm sorry I never hated like you have and I'm sorry that I don't understand you the way you needed to be." The blonde apologized while Tayuya's expression softened.

"If you and I fight one of us will die… so I added a new option. A new ending."

Naruto said while Sasuke scoffed, "What new ending? In what way can you change that fact?" The black-haired teen said while the blonde pointed at the distance as the breeze made the grass sway.

"I'll run away."

Naruto spoke while Sasuke adopted a surprised expression, "And I'll keep running, if it's killing you or running then I'll run every time." The teen said while Sasuke gritted his teeth.

"That's what you choose? Becoming a coward?!"

Sasuke yelled while Naruto nodded his head, "If it means not having to kill my friend, then yeah… I'm the biggest coward in the world." The blonde said, turning away from Sasuke.

"I'm not chasing after you anymore, I'm not fighting you pointlessly anymore, and I'm not dragging you back anywhere. I'll just run."

Naruto said, beginning to walk away from Sasuke who sat up even more groaning in pain, "What happened to never giving up huh?! You finally found something that breaks your damned nindo?!" Sasuke yelled while Naruto stopped looking over his shoulder.

"I'm not giving up on you, Sasuke… It's true I can't save you but that doesn't mean I can't help you save yourself… so give it all to me."

Naruto said while Sasuke looked at the blonde in shock as he turned to face him again, "Remember today. Today was the day I beat you. Today was the day that I won and didn't even use my full strength to do it. Today was the day I could have killed you, but I let you live." The blonde said while Sasuke gritted his teeth.

"Your hatred, your revenge, your need for power. Place all of it on me. The loser that beat you while holding back. Don't blame yourself or blame Itachi. Blame me. Hate me. Chase me down and try to fight me. I'll win again and run away until the day you find a way to make peace. I'll carry that all for you, Sasuke."

The blonde spoke while Sasuke was flabbergasted at the blonde standing calmly over him, he was a different person. Nothing like the idiot he used to be.

"You can no longer beat me, Sasuke. That's why I decided this fight is finished."

Naruto said calmly while Sasuke pointed at him, "Shut up! You're just a coward! A loser! Sent away to the rest of the world just to die! You're nothing, Naruto! Nothing!" Sasuke yelled while Naruto still stood unfazed.

"I hope you can find peace, Sasuke… I'll be here for you until you do. Once you do find that peace and end your fight against everything… come and find me. We'll talk."

Naruto said, turning around to walk away while Sasuke growled at the blonde, "I'm not weaker than you! I'm not! I'll kill you!" Sasuke raised his voice while Naruto paused.

"Oh, one more thing."

Naruto said while he looked over his shoulder, "You were also right, I never had parents that I could come home to… or any cousins to play with and meet for dinners… but you were wrong about not knowing what it was like to lose family." The blonde said while Sasuke's expression softened.

"I fought with him, argued with him, called him names, but when push came to shove, we had each other's backs. Constantly pushing each other to grow."

Naruto said while he kept his gaze directly in Sasuke's eyes as he spoke, "I failed him and broke my promise. I wanted to be there for him so badly, but I couldn't… No matter how hard I tried." The blonde spoke while Sasuke's glare faded completely.

"He was my brother… and I lost him the day I let him walk away. The only family I had left, gone because of me…"

Naruto said while Sasuke's eyes widened while Naruto turned his head away from his gaze, "Now it's my turn… to walk away from him." The blonde said as he started walking toward the horse.

"Naruto…"

"Naruto!"

Sasuke yelled after the blonde who kept walking away from him and Karin as the girl tried to hold the beaten boy back.

The visage of two boys staring at each other appeared, one boy had dark black hair and a frown on his face and the other bright blonde hair and a grin on his face. The black-haired boy then walked past the blonde haired before who turned away to follow after him. The black-haired boy kept walking ahead while the blonde-haired boy kept struggling to keep up.

The black-haired boy didn't even look back walking alone as the blonde kept doing his best to keep up with as much as possible, never catching up.

The two boys aged into teens; the black-haired teen kept walking ahead still not looking back as the blonde-haired teen kept pushing himself to try to catch up to the black-haired teen.

The black-haired teen finally stopped walking for a moment, he turned around spotting the blonde-haired teen on his back beaten and unconscious.

Sasuke stared at the downed Naruto while the rain fell, ultimately turning around to walk away again. Sasuke's attire changed to his current clothing as he looked back to where Naruto was lying down again.

Except he saw nothing there.

Instead, as he looked to the side, he watched Naruto walk beside him for a moment before he began walking past Sasuke.

Sasuke gritted his teeth walking after Naruto who kept walking without looking back toward the black-haired teen. Sasuke was pushing to try to catch up to Naruto but couldn't reach him as the blonde kept walking ahead of him now.

Except he wouldn't look back.

Not even a little.

"NARUTO!"

Sasuke roared, throwing himself out of Karin's arms, "Sasuke, stop! You need to bite and recover!" Karin yelled after Sasuke who groaned in pain as he dragged himself toward Naruto.

"Come back here! You coward! You loser!"

Sasuke yelled after Naruto who kept walking toward the horse, the black-haired teen dragged himself across the ground again.

The visage of the grinning blonde-haired boy appeared before him; his grin slowly faded in a calm smile as he gave a quick salute to the younger Sasuke walking away from him. The younger Sasuke looked at the blond in surprise reaching his hand toward the blonde kid that was walking away.

"Don't you walk away from me!"

"Face me!"

"Face me, Naruto!"

Sasuke yelled while Naruto made it to the horse, Tayuya slid backward allowing the blonde to hop on the horse and grab the reins. Sasuke reached toward Naruto from the ground glaring at him, the blonde finally looked his way with a somber look on his face.

"Find peace, Sasuke."

Those were the last words Naruto spoke to Sasuke whose eyes widened as the blonde turned the horse around.

"Ya!"

Naruto yelled while the horse began to gallop away across the grassy field, "Naruto!" Sasuke yelled after him as he and Tayuya got further and further away.

The visage of the black-haired boy tripped hitting the ground while the blonde-haired boy became more distant. The visage of the black-haired boy became Sasuke who was also on the ground reaching toward where the horse had galloped off to.

"Don't…"

Sasuke said weakly while he began to lose consciousness, Karin quickly grabbed Sasuke while he reached his hand toward the horse in the distance.

"...Don't walk away from me."

Sasuke said in an almost somber tone weakly while Karin held the black-haired teen in her arms rolling up her sleeve.

She forced Sasuke to bite into her wrist while she winced, her red eyes looking toward the distance as the bright and warm chakra from before slowly faded from her senses.

"Naruto Uzumaki…"

{...}

Tayuya stared up toward the sky, hours had passed since she stopped clawing at the log she was trapped, her fuzzy brown eyes watched the colors of the sky fade from bright blue to a dimming orange.

Blood dripped from her fingertips while she laid on her back, trapped and unable to move abandoned and alone.

Right at death's door.

A sudden bump caused the pinkette to snap out of her memory, the breeze blew through her hair while her brown eyes opened to the sight of Naruto's back. The horse galloped while they continued crossing the large grassy field, her arms were wrapped around the boy's waist holding onto him.

Tayuya stared at Naruto's back for a moment before she lightly headbutted him, "You ok?" The girl asked while the quiet blonde said nothing for a moment before he exhaled.

"I will be."

Naruto said while Tayuya nodded her head resting her face on the blonde's back, he was warm as always. Warm enough to remind her that she was still alive after everything that had happened to her in her brief time after she lost to Shikamaru and Temari.

She wanted to live, and she was alive.

"You ok?"

The blonde asked while Tayuya huffed, "...I will be. I definitely don't want to be asked that by you of all people after all of that." The girl said while Naruto huffed back with a small smile on his face.

"Good."

Naruto said while Tayuya continued resting her head on his back, a flash of Orochimaru entered her mind causing her to pat his back.

"Oi, pull over."

The girl said while the blonde gave her a look before he pulled back on the reins stopping the horse.

"What's wrong? Horsesick?"

The blonde asked while Tayuya rolled her eyes, "Ha ha. Let's get off here for a moment, come get me." The girl said while Naruto gave her a confused look while he got off of the horse. He gently took her down from the horse into his arms while she pointed to a tree.

"Here?"

The blonde asked while Tayuya nodded, "Yeah." The pinkette said while Naruto carried her over to the tree.

The blonde set her down against the tree gently while the girl rolled her shoulders, "Thanks." She said while she grabbed several sticks and leaves.

"What are you doing?"

Naruto asked while the girl kept working, "Saying goodbye." Tayuya spoke before she made a quick hand sign that set the sticks on fire.

Naruto watched as the girl took her cap off of her head before staring at it, "Maybe your speech to Princess inspired me…" the girl said while she held onto the cap firmly in her hands.

"You don't have to if you don't want to."

Naruto spoke while Tayuya looked into the boy's gentle blue eyes before she looked back at the cap, her memories with the rest of the Sound Four flooded her mind.

The moment that Orochimaru placed the cap on her head entered her thoughts as well while her fingers tightened around the headwear.

"Miserable little Tayuya."

Orochimaru spoke while the younger version of herself stared at the man who reached his hand out toward her.

Tayuya then dropped the cap into the fire she made, "I appreciate the sentiment, Shithead… but I do need to." The girl said while the headwear burned in the flames.

"Tayuya of the Sound 4, in the end wanted nothing more than her death but not to die alone. How selfish, right? So, I'm here to make sure she dies with someone who knew that."

Tayuya said while Naruto gave the reddish color haired girl a look before he glanced at the cap burning.

"So, who are you now?"

Naruto asked while the flames danced as Tayuya stared at the flames for another moment before she looked ahead.

"I guess whoever I decide to be huh. I don't hate the name Tayuya so I'll at least keep that."

Tayuya said while Naruto chuckled in response, "I'm a fan, still calling you Yuya though." The blonde said while the girl scoffed.

"In your dreams, Shithead."

"Whatever, Yuya."

Naruto responded while the girl shot him a playful glare before she chuckled, "Oh, I can do that without feeling weird now huh?" Tayuya said while she laughed genuinely.

Naruto smiled at the girl while he could already see how much weight had been taken off of her shoulders.

"Any words for Tayuya of the Sound Four?"

Naruto asked while Tayuya looked at the burning cap one more time before she nudged the blonde, Naruto took this as his signal lifting the girl off of the ground.

Tayuya's brown eyes looked at the burning flames, she envisioned Orochimaru standing in that burning house she always remembered.

"Good riddance."

Tayuya said while the blonde exhaled out of his nose, he turned around carrying the girl in his arms as they made their way back to the horse.

"Of course."

Naruto said, earning a look from Tayuya making the boy laugh, slowly a leaf fell toward the fire spinning around it before it landed on top of the burning cap in the dying flames.

The leaf burned along with the cap while Naruto and Tayuya began to ride away from the dying flames on the horse.

"Hey."

"What?"

"You mind if I make some outrageous promise?"

Tayuya looked at the blonde with confusion, "Like what?" answered while Naruto turned to face the pinkette.

"I'll free you."

Naruto said while Tayuya's eyes widened in response to the blonde who scratched the back of his head.

"I get the symbolism of you burning your cap from Orochimaru and stuff, but I mean completely, I'll find a way to get rid of that curse mark on you."

Naruto said while Tayuya huffed, "...Sure, Shithead." The girl said while the blonde tapped his chin.

"Oh, I'll also heal up your legs! Finish what Dr. Kusakabe started."

The blonde said excitedly while the girl rolled her eyes, "Alright, let's not make too many crazy unfulfillable promises." The girl said while the blonde shook his head.

"I've already broken my last and only promise I will break… You get a fresh slate, 100% chance of being kept!"

Naruto said excitedly while the girl allowed a small smile to grow on her face as she rolled her eyes. "Whatever, Shithead. So where to next?" The girl asked while the blonde looked at the path in the forest ahead of them.

"There's a distant land… I think my parents are connected to it somehow. Apparently, it was an advanced place home to a bunch of strong ninja at some point, I plan on going there to-"

The boy was cut off by Tayuya flicking his head, "I already know that part, Idiot. Dramatically retelling it isn't going to make me forget it's Uzushiogakure… I meant the next stop." The girl asked, causing Naruto to grin.

"Well to get to Uzushiogakure, we're taking a route that's going to take us through the Land of Lightning."

The blonde said while Tayuya groaned, "Ugh those Land of Lightning guys are a pain in the ass to deal with, let's not stick there too long." The girl said while Naruto's expression softened.

"It's going to be a long journey… it's probably going to be rough, and we'll run into trouble. There's still time to get off this crazy ride if you aren't up for it."

Naruto said while Tayuya looked the blonde directly in his eyes before she slapped his back, "Trying to scare me off to protect me? Not working, Shithead. You're stuck with me now." The girl said before she rested her head on his back.

"Now mush."

Tayuya spoke while Naruto gave the girl a big smile before he took a hold of the reins of the horse.

"Yes ma'am!"

Naruto exclaimed, rushing them forward on the horse who started galloping at high speed down the path, Tayuya kept her eyes closed while the wind blew through her hair.

No wildfire surrounded by flowers.

No beasts in a field.

Just Tayuya and Naruto doing whatever they wanted.

She liked this way the best.

Naruto closed his eyes while the wind blew through his hair ahead as the horse began picking up speed.

Land of Lighting, here we come.

"Ya!"

Naruto yelled while they dashed deeper into the forest before them running headfirst into the next part of the journey.

{...}

"What do you mean, Uzushiogakure?"

The voice of a man yelled while the cartographer groaned at the sudden loud voice that came from his client.

"Look, the kid simply asked for a map as a part of his reward. No one was even buying those old things, anyway, don't ask me why he wanted to go there."

The old cartographer said as a hand slapped down on the table in front of him, slowly the white-haired man looked into his eyes.

"You said he was a few days ago when he got that map?"

Jiraiya asked while the cartographer growled, "What is this some kinda interrogation? I always disliked you ninja types. That happened well over a few weeks ago." The old man said while Jiraiya sighed.

"Look, I just want to know what direction the kid went. I've been looking for him for a long time and you would be amazingly helpful in ending that search."

Jiraiya asked as calmly as he could while the old cartographer grumbled, "I think the map I gave him went through the Lands of Lightning and Frost…. That's all I remember from that old thing." The old man said before Jiraiya rubbed a hand over his face.

"I wish you could be a little more specific but that helps a lot, thank you sir. Sorry for bothering you."

Jiraiya said before leaving money on the counter before walking toward the exit, "What do you want with the Blue-Eyed Demon anyway?" The old man asked, causing Jiraiya to stop in his tracks.

"Demon? No… that kid is my brightest student."

Jiraiya said while he pushed the doors open walking outside into the streets of the Hidden Grass Village.

"And it's time for him to come home."

{...}

The flames of lit candles flickered while a figure walked past them, the candles were in two rows with a long gold and red carpet in the middle. The figure walked up the carpet with his head down, a piece of paper flicked around in his hand with every quick step that he took.

The figure continued walking down the carpet until he reached the foot of a small set of steps that led to a pair of black leather boots.

"Milord."

The figure with the bandana over his face said while one of the boots tapped the ground, the sound of shuffling was heard from the throne that sat at the top of the small set of steps.

"What waste of time have you brought me this time?"

The voice from the throne spoke while the sight of brass-colored eyes that almost seemed to glow a red color pierced through the darkness surrounding him. "He recently arrived in the Land of Lightning, and he's been interrupting a few of our operations." The bandana wearing figure said while nails tapped on the arm rest of the throne, the eyes narrowed.

"Who?"

The voice from the throne asked while the figure lifted up the piece of paper revealing its contents to the figure on the throne.

"Well, well. Look who it is…"

The figure on the throne said while a deep chuckle came out of his throat looking toward the page. The page of a wanted poster with Naruto's name, picture, and the amount of money his bounty was while the figure on the throne kept chuckling.

"So…"

The figure leaned back in his chair while his sharp, toothy, grin cut through the light along with the gleam of his eyes.

"How soon can I meet him?"